Pope says baptism is for everyone, even Martians

Pope Francis on Monday declared that everyone has the right to be baptised, even aliens should they come knocking on the church's door. -- PHOTO: EPA

VATICAN CITY (AFP) - Pope Francis on Monday declared that everyone has the right to be baptised, even aliens should they come knocking on the church's door.

Christians cannot "close the door" to all those who seek baptism even if they are "green men, with a long nose and big ears, like children draw," the pope said at his daily mass, according to Vatican Radio.

"If tomorrow, for example, an expedition of Martians arrives and some of them come to us... and if one of them says: 'Me, I want to be baptised!', what would happen?" Pope Francis said in another display of his lively sense of humour.

The Argentine pontiff known for his down-to-earth style has often used colourful and humourous expressions to make his points on the direction of the Roman Catholic Church.